I hate to make predictions about my son's future. However, this week something happened that I needed to document. The story I know will arise again even if not in the circumstances under which I predict.
Whit has always been a "ball" lover. During football season his Daddy taught him how to kick off. He will whistle (as in the whistle to start play) and then kick the ball. He will also get down into a stance, tackle, throw touchdowns and complete hand-offs. At Christmas he received a basketball goal. He hasn't mastered dribbling yet, but he will shoot and pass the basketball. This is something that we do every day. A few weeks ago we experienced our first baseball game of the season. Whit obviously picked up on more than I thought because this week he began swinging his bat and then throwing it (as I'm sure he saw the big boys do during the game).
I've also been working with Whit on yelling "Ready!" prior to throwing a ball. He loves to get right next to you and throw, expecting you to catch it even though you are unaware that the ball has even left his hand. We've moved all of the "real" baseballs and basketballs to the outside toy box and do not allow them in the house. Although we did this as a precautionary measure, the genius of it became evident on Sunday. In the church nursery, where I was volunteering and Whit was playing, a small, hard, Whit sized ball was lurking in the shadows. After he threw it at me once or twice I took it away and said "This ball is too hard, find another ball and we will play catch." Not thirty seconds later I heard "Ready!" and as I turned to catch, a second small, hard, Whit sized ball connected with my face. The velocity with which Whit threw this ball astounded me.
Five days later I'm still the proud owner of a black eye and I've been warding off comments about it all week. "Yes, my infant son threw a ball at me and gave me a black eye. Yes, I understand that he must have thrown the ball very hard to do this much damage. Yes, I know that sounds impossible, but I swear it's true!!"
Almost every young baseball player dreams of being in the big leagues; most don't make it there. I'm not making a prediction, but... if Whit can give Mama a black eye when he's 20 months old, what will he be able to do when he is 20 years old?
Friday, February 24, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Ask and you shall receive
Ok - I admit it, I'm not blogging as I should.... I've already heard about my abandonment of facebook. But cut me some slack. I'm Mama to a very busy 20 month old, a first year (sort of) teacher, a college student, a wife to a husband who is deep into the beginning of baseball season, a homemaker trying to make it work on a teacher's salary and I've recently become both the FCCLA advisor and Cheerleading coach... Whew!! I'm tired just typing it!!
I'm going to carve out some time for my loyal followers most especially Grams and Grandpap up in Alaska. Here is an update from one of the lower 48. (ps, thanks for the Valentine's Day gift. Whit keeps taking the stickers off the book and putting them on his arm. He laughs, points and says "arm!")
20 months
Whit is 20 months old today! What a great reason to celebrate Valentine's Day! He's a laid up with a sinus infection right now but it's only slowed him slightly. We still made it out in the cold, snowy weather this past weekend to visit all of the Renegar cousins and watch Uncle Eric play a baseball game. Whit spent more time running up the hill, climbing on the golf cart and playing with the dogs than watching the game, but at least we were there for support. And it was great to see him running around playing football with all of his big boy cousins.
The first Hawks baseball game is coming up in about a month so I am ready to get Whit in baseball mode. Before that happens we need to wrap up basketball season. As the cheer co-head coach Whit and I have been in attendance at more than 1/2 of the regular season games. It's a challenge keeping Whit off the court until Daddy gets there after baseball practice. He wants nothing more than to be out with the big boys playing "Bass." To help the situation we've moved one of Whit's big Christmas presents into the living room. Yes, we now have a miniature sized basketball court with the couch as our courtside seating. Whit will grab his ball and run to either Kirk or myself to "Pay." (he helps to clarify by doing the ASL sign for "play").
Whit is in a language explosion right now. A documented developmental leap, the language explosion (my term) happens between 18 and 24 months. Whit has nearly doubled his words in the last month and has gone from single word sentences to two word sentences. As we got ready this morning I asked if he was going to see Sarah today (his daytime playmate). He looked at me and said "See Baby Reese?" Whit is a little in love with baby Reese. I try not to laugh at their little love triangle. Sarah loves Whit, Whit loves Reese. As Sarah and Reese are sisters separated by fewer than 2 years I know that their trials are just beginning.
I've been doing "Whit Wednesdays" with my freshman class so I will be uploading pictures and videos tomorrow to show them. Look for another post here very soon!
I'm going to carve out some time for my loyal followers most especially Grams and Grandpap up in Alaska. Here is an update from one of the lower 48. (ps, thanks for the Valentine's Day gift. Whit keeps taking the stickers off the book and putting them on his arm. He laughs, points and says "arm!")
20 months
Whit is 20 months old today! What a great reason to celebrate Valentine's Day! He's a laid up with a sinus infection right now but it's only slowed him slightly. We still made it out in the cold, snowy weather this past weekend to visit all of the Renegar cousins and watch Uncle Eric play a baseball game. Whit spent more time running up the hill, climbing on the golf cart and playing with the dogs than watching the game, but at least we were there for support. And it was great to see him running around playing football with all of his big boy cousins.
The first Hawks baseball game is coming up in about a month so I am ready to get Whit in baseball mode. Before that happens we need to wrap up basketball season. As the cheer co-head coach Whit and I have been in attendance at more than 1/2 of the regular season games. It's a challenge keeping Whit off the court until Daddy gets there after baseball practice. He wants nothing more than to be out with the big boys playing "Bass." To help the situation we've moved one of Whit's big Christmas presents into the living room. Yes, we now have a miniature sized basketball court with the couch as our courtside seating. Whit will grab his ball and run to either Kirk or myself to "Pay." (he helps to clarify by doing the ASL sign for "play").
Whit is in a language explosion right now. A documented developmental leap, the language explosion (my term) happens between 18 and 24 months. Whit has nearly doubled his words in the last month and has gone from single word sentences to two word sentences. As we got ready this morning I asked if he was going to see Sarah today (his daytime playmate). He looked at me and said "See Baby Reese?" Whit is a little in love with baby Reese. I try not to laugh at their little love triangle. Sarah loves Whit, Whit loves Reese. As Sarah and Reese are sisters separated by fewer than 2 years I know that their trials are just beginning.
I've been doing "Whit Wednesdays" with my freshman class so I will be uploading pictures and videos tomorrow to show them. Look for another post here very soon!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Great Leaps
Every now and then a child's development goes from a casual stroll to a leap. Currently, Whit is leaping.... small leaps, maybe more like hops but still developing at a faster pace than he has recently.
Tonight, when I said it was time for 'Night Night' he leaned over from where he was sitting to give Daddy a kiss (as he does every night but usually with my encouragment), he gently went upstairs without a fight and curled up with Mommy for a book, some rocking and off to bed nursing. Within about 10 minutes of heading upstairs he was asleep. Yesterday, when I said it was time for 'Night Night' he went upstairs and laid down in his bed without prompting. It's clear that he's beginning to understand more every day.
The same thing with his sign language and other daily tasks. Whit has (in my opinion) a fairly large vocabulary for a 14 1/2 month old who is far more concerned with physical develpment than language. He says consistently: Mommy, Daddy, tickle, cat, woof-woof, ball, ba-ball (baseball), hat and out (outside). There are several other words that he will repeat when prompted. What is somewhat more impressive to me is his ever growing sign language vocabulary. This is probably more impressive to me because it is not a typical development that is observed in children. We've been working on signs for nearly a year and he's picked up one every month or so until the last month. As with spoken words he's beginning to pick up signs much faster. In sign language Whit can say: All-done, more, nurse, please, bath and no. He also has several other signs that he makes that I haven't figured out yet.
Whit's also developing in other amazing ways. He loves to help unload the dishwasher, vacumn, sweep and take the wet clothes out of the dryer (yes, the dryer). He will climb (or attempt to climb) anything and thinks driving a car is all the rage. His current obsessions are putting hats on his own and other peoples heads and putting shoes on his feet. We took him out on Sunday to purchase new shoes for his ever growing (and very wide) feet. You would have thought he was at the playground. He loved picking out shoes and has asked to put his shoes on each evening since Sunday.
I'm so enjoying watching each new development happen that I've forgotten to pine for the days when I could rock Whit and not have to worry about him not fitting in the rocking chair. It's precious to see his growing relationship with Daddy and his ability to more easiliy recognize friends and family.
New photos to come soon!
Tonight, when I said it was time for 'Night Night' he leaned over from where he was sitting to give Daddy a kiss (as he does every night but usually with my encouragment), he gently went upstairs without a fight and curled up with Mommy for a book, some rocking and off to bed nursing. Within about 10 minutes of heading upstairs he was asleep. Yesterday, when I said it was time for 'Night Night' he went upstairs and laid down in his bed without prompting. It's clear that he's beginning to understand more every day.
The same thing with his sign language and other daily tasks. Whit has (in my opinion) a fairly large vocabulary for a 14 1/2 month old who is far more concerned with physical develpment than language. He says consistently: Mommy, Daddy, tickle, cat, woof-woof, ball, ba-ball (baseball), hat and out (outside). There are several other words that he will repeat when prompted. What is somewhat more impressive to me is his ever growing sign language vocabulary. This is probably more impressive to me because it is not a typical development that is observed in children. We've been working on signs for nearly a year and he's picked up one every month or so until the last month. As with spoken words he's beginning to pick up signs much faster. In sign language Whit can say: All-done, more, nurse, please, bath and no. He also has several other signs that he makes that I haven't figured out yet.
Whit's also developing in other amazing ways. He loves to help unload the dishwasher, vacumn, sweep and take the wet clothes out of the dryer (yes, the dryer). He will climb (or attempt to climb) anything and thinks driving a car is all the rage. His current obsessions are putting hats on his own and other peoples heads and putting shoes on his feet. We took him out on Sunday to purchase new shoes for his ever growing (and very wide) feet. You would have thought he was at the playground. He loved picking out shoes and has asked to put his shoes on each evening since Sunday.
I'm so enjoying watching each new development happen that I've forgotten to pine for the days when I could rock Whit and not have to worry about him not fitting in the rocking chair. It's precious to see his growing relationship with Daddy and his ability to more easiliy recognize friends and family.
New photos to come soon!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Popular Demand
After much lamentation from my brother (as well as others) I must set down my other tasks and make blogging a priorty once again.
For those who don't know, in an attempt to spend more time with my family and the ever precocious W, I have switched careers (for the second time in my life). I'm now employed at Hardin Valley Academy alongside my darling husband. To be honest, I am not seeing the immediate fruits of my labor as the first year teaching (or in my case first year back) can be rather all-encompassing. Tonight I have completed planning for yet another day and am staying up beyond my bedtime to post this.
W continues to grow as fast as he can. After a trip home last weekend for one of my best friends' wedding Kirk and I both made the comment that we thought Whit had grown during the 4 hour car drive. Well, he looked taller. He has also continued to develop in other aspects. He is more dextrous, much faster on his feet and his sense of humor has outmatched my own. Recently Whit has been keeping the staff of HVA entertained and getting to know his new sitter, Nanny C. Although it has been difficult for him to get back into the swing of things after a long summer home with Momma and Daddy, he is doing remarkably well.
And now for the goods! Our Zoo trip with Uncle E, Nana E and Papa as well as what ever other tidbits I have on my computer.
For those who don't know, in an attempt to spend more time with my family and the ever precocious W, I have switched careers (for the second time in my life). I'm now employed at Hardin Valley Academy alongside my darling husband. To be honest, I am not seeing the immediate fruits of my labor as the first year teaching (or in my case first year back) can be rather all-encompassing. Tonight I have completed planning for yet another day and am staying up beyond my bedtime to post this.
W continues to grow as fast as he can. After a trip home last weekend for one of my best friends' wedding Kirk and I both made the comment that we thought Whit had grown during the 4 hour car drive. Well, he looked taller. He has also continued to develop in other aspects. He is more dextrous, much faster on his feet and his sense of humor has outmatched my own. Recently Whit has been keeping the staff of HVA entertained and getting to know his new sitter, Nanny C. Although it has been difficult for him to get back into the swing of things after a long summer home with Momma and Daddy, he is doing remarkably well.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Melt my Heart
There are times, as a parent, that life seems impossible. The house won't stay clean, the baby is crying, you haven't slept in days. Recently, I've been reading some literature on infant/child sleep patterns. Whit still struggles to self-sooth unless he is in the car and finds it difficult to sleep without a warm body close by. He demands attention and interaction and has a need to be stimulated during most of his waking hours. I should have seen this coming (and I may have contributed to the issue) as when I was carrying him we played 'footsie' nearly all day long. Anyone who saw me pregnant can attest to the fact that I was nearly always 'playing' with Whit unless he was sleeping. And then I was usually rubbing his back while he slept. This seemed to keep him calm and kept him from bruising my kidneys.
Ironically, I often receive comments on what a happy baby he is. Perhaps this is because I give into most of his demands - I 'wear' him so that he is close to my body and can easily interact with me. Now that he is getting larger I find it easier to let him ride in the cart but I still make conversation while we are shopping. Still, Whit has days when he is very sensitive, days when he needs to cuddle all day long. We have been blessed to have Nanny Kate who will also indulge Whit's needs as much as possible.
During my research I found a description that seemed to fit Whit perfectly. 'The high-needs baby'. Now, a high-needs baby is not an un-happy baby. And they do not lack the ability to self-sooth or to play alone. They just prefer not to. Especially when Mom is around. And have someone else put them to sleep at night? Don't even think about it!
Although this knowledge would have been re-assuring when Whit was much younger I'm glad that I'm just now finding it out. I was under the impression that his needs were 'normal' needs and so I did not get frustrated or treat him differently as I might have otherwise.
And as Whit grows older I know that I will continue to find reasons why I am glad that he is exactly the way he is. Whit craves physical contact. So I get hugs and kisses frequently - sometimes every 5 minutes. He's always been a champion nurser, even as he has gotten too busy to have a diaper change or sleep he still finds time to cuddle up for a meal or a snack. He prefers to sleep in our arms so Mommy, Daddy, Grams, Nana...etc. have the opportunity to hold and rock him while he sleeps. Someday Whit will be grown and I will look back at those long days and nights of snuggling with fondness. And maybe I'll have a cuddly teenager and adult son who will not hesitate to come up and give his mom a hug and kiss no matter how grown up he is.
Dr. Sears: High Needs Baby
Ironically, I often receive comments on what a happy baby he is. Perhaps this is because I give into most of his demands - I 'wear' him so that he is close to my body and can easily interact with me. Now that he is getting larger I find it easier to let him ride in the cart but I still make conversation while we are shopping. Still, Whit has days when he is very sensitive, days when he needs to cuddle all day long. We have been blessed to have Nanny Kate who will also indulge Whit's needs as much as possible.
During my research I found a description that seemed to fit Whit perfectly. 'The high-needs baby'. Now, a high-needs baby is not an un-happy baby. And they do not lack the ability to self-sooth or to play alone. They just prefer not to. Especially when Mom is around. And have someone else put them to sleep at night? Don't even think about it!
Although this knowledge would have been re-assuring when Whit was much younger I'm glad that I'm just now finding it out. I was under the impression that his needs were 'normal' needs and so I did not get frustrated or treat him differently as I might have otherwise.
And as Whit grows older I know that I will continue to find reasons why I am glad that he is exactly the way he is. Whit craves physical contact. So I get hugs and kisses frequently - sometimes every 5 minutes. He's always been a champion nurser, even as he has gotten too busy to have a diaper change or sleep he still finds time to cuddle up for a meal or a snack. He prefers to sleep in our arms so Mommy, Daddy, Grams, Nana...etc. have the opportunity to hold and rock him while he sleeps. Someday Whit will be grown and I will look back at those long days and nights of snuggling with fondness. And maybe I'll have a cuddly teenager and adult son who will not hesitate to come up and give his mom a hug and kiss no matter how grown up he is.
Dr. Sears: High Needs Baby
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